Pressure-regulator.



J. KBNLON.

PRESSURE REGULATOR. 1111111011'131011 FILED Nov. 7. 1907..

946,228. v QPatentea'Jan. 11,1910.4

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

I6' l N VEN TOR W/TNESSES J/zn fl/fgnlow.

Q. RM1@ my I gym' (gg l l "Arme/vers J. KENLON.

PRESSURE REGULATOR.

APPLIOATION FILED Nov. 7. 1907.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

JOHN KENLON, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

PRESSURE-REGULATOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed November 7, 1907.

Patented J an. 11, 1910.

Serial No. 401,115.

To all 'whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN KENLON, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of New York, borough of Manhattan, county and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Pressure-Regulator, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to pressure regulators, and is intended especially to be used by ire departments for controlling the flow and pressure of water in re hose.

In using a fire hose which has a reducing nozzle for controlling the diameter' of the stream issuing from the nozzle, there is great danger of bursting the hose if the flow at the nozzle is too suddenly restricted, and there is also danger of injuring the men operating the nozzle when the flow through the nozzle is permitted.

The object of this invention is to produce a regulator adapted to be connected with the hose, and which will operate to prevent the bursting of the hose and injury to the men from the causes indicated.

A further object of the invention is to provide a construction which will enable the stream passing to the hose to be reduced and regulated when desired, or to enable the. full force of the stream to iiow unobstructed through the hose.

The invention consists in the construction and combination of parts to be more fully described hereinafter and particularly set forth in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a plan of a regulator constructed according to my invention, a part of the wrench or main valve lever being reption showing the side of the regulator and partly broken away so as to show one of the reducing valves in cioss section; in this view a portion of the lever for controlling the main valve, is broken away; Fig. 3 is a v cross section through the main valve of the regulator; Fig. 4 is a perspective showing details of the construction of the reducing valve. Fig. 5 is a plan showing the regulator in connection with a hose and reducing nozzle, a portion of the hose being broken away; and Fig. 6 is a longitudinal section and partial elevation of the reducing nozzle upon an enlarged scale and showing a short portion of the hose.

Before proceeding to a detailed description of the construction, it should be stated that the invention most conveniently takes the form of a short pipe connection adapted to be attached to a lire hydrant.

Referring more particularly to the parts, 1 represents the cylindrical body of a pipe connection, provided at one end with a coupling 2 facilitating its attachment to a fire plug. The opposite end of the body 1 is formed into a threaded neck 3 to which the fire hose 3a is attached. At or near its middle point, the body 1 is formed into a main valve 4 having a plug or gate 5 operated by a lever 6, and by means of this gate the full How of water may be allowed to pass through the body 1 and into the hose. On the sides of the body 1 I provide by-pass pipes 7, which are adapted to lead the water around the valve 4 vwhen it is closed. Near their middle points, the by-pass pipes 7 are formed into reducing valves 8 by means of which the flow of water to the hose is regulated. The construction of one of these valves is very clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 4. The middle portion of the by-pass pipes 7 is formed into a cylindrical casing 9, the interior of which communicates with the interior of the by-pass pipes, as illustrated in Fig. 2. The valve proper is formed of two halves or jaws 10 and 11. These jaws when placed together as shown in Fig. 4, present a. tapered form. Toward their large ends, they are pivotally mounted in the valve case 9 upon suitable studs 12, as shown in Fig. 2. The adjacent faces of the valve sections 10 and 11 are cut away at their butt ends, so that a chamber 13 of substantially rectangular form in cross section, is produced. This j chamber, as viewed in longitudinal section, resented as broken away; Fig. 2 is an eleval terminates near the ends of the valve sections, at which point the valve sections present meeting faces 14 lying in the central plane of the by-pass pipes 7. At the sides, the valve sections 1() and 11 are formed with overlapping edges 15, as indicated most clearly in Fig. 4. The purpose of this construction will be described later.

The studs 12 are mounted so that their axes are parallel with the axis of the cylindrical casing, as will be readily understood, and the butt ends of the valve sections 10 and 11 are formed with rounded cheeks 16 which are adapted to seat against the inner face of the casing 9 When the valve is closed. as shown in Fig. 2.

It should be understood that when thel valve sections are held against each other. as in Fig. 2. the flow of the Water through the ley-passes Will be prevented. The valve sections are held in this closed position by means of helical springs 17, the inner ends of which are received in seats 18 formed in the outer side of the valve sections, as indicated. The outer ends of these spring's are i received in sockets 19 formed at the inner extremities of valve stems 20. These valve stems 2O are each threaded through a stuit i ing-box nut 21 which screws upon a suitable 1 nipple 22 formed on the side of the valve casing, as indicated. The sockets 19 tit nicely in the bore of the nipples, so that the nipples operate to assist in guiding the stems as they are screwed in or out. The stems are provided with suitable handles j for this purpose.

lVith the construction described, it should be understood that the springs will support a considerable pressure, and the by-pa. valves Will not open until this pressure is E exceeded. The pressure at which the valves l will open can be regulated by screwing the l stems 2O in or out. The valve sections 10 and 11I` in separating', Will not permit the Il stream to tloyv out at the sides thereof, by reason of the overlapping side edges l5 ivhieh were referred to above.

The flouY of Water through the hose 3a may be shut olf by closing the gate and by screwing up the stems 20 until the springs l 1T are compressed sulliciently to hold the water pressure. By partially unscrevving` the stems 2O the compression on the springs 1T can be released suliiciently to allow the t by-pass valves to open and the Water Will then flow through the hose 3a under a reduced pressure. This pressure can be nicely regulated by varying the state of compression of the springs 17. The adjustment of g the reducing valve to regulate the pressure. i is essential, as it frequently becomes necessary to vary the pressure to meet the conditions at fires. It the gate of the nozzle 2l is closed or partially closed, a rise in pressure occurs in the hose line beyond the reducing valve, and this pressure operating on the l outer surfaces of the valve sections 10 and 11 of the reducing valve, Wholly or partially closes the said sections. It Will thus be. seen that the reducing valve is controlled by the gate of the nozzle. Wholly or partially closing according the gate is vvholly or partially closed. By this means the floiv of water into the hose is regulated according to the discharge through the nozzle and the rise of pressure in the hose to a dangerous point is prevented. By relieving the hose of excessive pressure liability of its bursting and the damage and loss resulting therefrom is avoided. Protection is also attorded th(` men operating the nozzle from a sudden rise oit' pressure and from the recoil upon the opening ot the gate of the nozzle. The reducing nozzle may be of any common construction .such as that shown. in which the gate 25 is formed et' two sections or crescent-shaped shutters 26. the edges of which are provided With gear teeth QT which mesh together. as indicated. lllhen one ofthe shutters 2G is rotated by means of its handle it will rotate the other shutter. and the degree ot' opening may be regulated. or the current may be completely shut o'tl. if rcquired.

In cities having lire mains carrying a sufticiently high pressure. the pressure regulator described may dispense with lire engines, as the pressure can be reduced to that pressure vvhich seems to bc the best Working pressure under the circumstances.

In order to prevent a disturbance and Waste of velocity at the point ivhere the streams meet from the bypass pipes. a battle plate is provided. as indiiated in the dotted lines in Fig. 1. but this forms no part of the present invention.

there is it desired to admit the full preesure of the water through thev hose. and Where there is no danger of rupturing the hose. as, for instance. Where a reducing nozzle is not used. the gate valve may be left open so as to admit the full force of the stream. but it should be understood that when the valve is used in connection With a reducing nozzle, the gate valve must remain closed in order to produce the beneficial effeet of the by-pass valves.

Having thus described my invention. I claim as neyv and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. In a regulator for lire service. the combination of a hose. a valved nozzle on one end of the hose. and a reducing valve adapted to be connected With a Water supply and with ivhich the other end of the hose is conl nected. the reducing` valve opening in the direction of the flow and adapted to be closed or partially closed by the back pressure according to Whether the valved nozzle is Wholly or partially closed.

Q. ln a regulator for tire service, the coml bination of a hose. a reducing nozzle on one end of the hose. and an adjustable reducing valve adapted to be connected with ay Water supply and With which the other end of the hose connected. the reducing valve opening in the direction of the tlovv of Water and adapted to be closed by back pressure When the reducing nozzle is closed, whereby the hose is relieved of excessive pressure and the danger resulting therefrom avoided.

3. A regulator having' a main valve adaptt ed to close ott the liow of Water. a by-pass` around said main valve, a valve in said bypass adapted to close under back pressure, in combination with a hose, and a reducing nozzle carried by said hose.

4. A regulator having a main valve comprising a plug, a by-pass extending around said main valve and opening communication between the ends of said regulator independently of said plug, and a reducing valve in said by-pass opening in the direction of iow.

' 5. In a pressure regulator, in combination, a body having a hand-controlled main valve, a by-pass pipe connecting the ends of said body around said valve, a reducing valve consisting of pivoted sections projecting in the direction toward which the current flows, and means tending to hold said valve sections together.

G. In a pressure regulator, in combination7 a main valve, a by-pass pipe, valve sections pivotally mounted, tapering toward the direction in which the water flows, means tending to hold said valve sections together, and means for adjusting said last means.

7. In a pressure regulator, avalve formed of sections meeting together and forming a chamber therein, said valve sections having meeting faces normally preventing the flow, and resilient means tending to hold said valve sections together, and supporting the water pressure before said valve opens.

8. In a pressure regulator, a valve formed of tapered sections having meeting faces closing the How therethrough, said valve sections forming a chamber therebetween, and means tending to prevent the separation of said valve sections, said valve sections having overlapping side edges preventing a lateral flow of the current.

9. In a pressure regulator, in combination, a body having a main valve therein, a pair of by-pass pipes leading water around said valve, said by-pass pipes having valve cases formed therein, valve sections of tapered form pivot-ed in saidcases at their butt ends, and having rounded faces coming against the wall of said case, said valve sections being of tapered form and meeting together to t'orm a chamber therebetween, and means for regulating the pressure at which said valve sections will open apart to pass the stream.

10. A pressure regulator having a case, pivoted valve sections mounted in said case and adapted to separate to pass the water in the direction in which they project, springs seating against the outer sides of said valve sections and pressing the same together, and stems passing into said case and affording means for adjusting the pressure on said springs.

ln testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence ot two subscribing witnesses.

` JOHN KENLoN.

Witnesses F. D. AMMEN, EVERARD B. MARSHALL. 

